November 07, 2008
Politics:
President of Bulgaria visited Uzbekistan
Plovdiv, Samarkand become twin cities
Economics:
Uzbek-Bulgarian business forum held in Tashkent
Bulgarian, Uzbek trade chambers sign cooperation agreement
BAS Programme is open for cooperation – national director
Chemical industry trade fair in Tashkent
Society:
Soglom Avlod Uchun Helps Children Enjoy Their School Holidays
Tashkent conference discusses environment protection
New educational Internet portal
Master class for young composers
POLICY
PRESIDENT OF BULGARIA VISITED UZBEKISTAN
President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov started his state visit to Uzbekistan on November 5, National News agency UzA reported.
Relations with Bulgaria occupy a special place in the foreign policy of Uzbekistan. The two countries are reliable partners successfully cooperating on the international arena.
Uzbekistan and Bulgaria have common views on many regional and international problems. The presidents of the two states are united in the issues of strengthening security and stability.
During the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to Bulgaria in 2003, Georgi Parvanov said his country was a small door to the large European market for Uzbekistan. Islam Karimov said Uzbekistan was ready to become a door to Central Asia for Bulgaria.
In this sense, the state visit of Georgi Parvanov to Uzbekistan can be considered a logical continuation of the high-level talks and another practical step on the way to raising the bilateral relations to a higher level.
On November 6, presidents of Uzbekistan and Bulgaria held face-to-face talks. They discussed the current state and perspectives of bilateral relations, as well as touched upon regional and international problems representing mutual interest.
The two leaders focused their attention on the situation in Afghanistan. Islam Karimov said Uzbekistan’s position was to disarm the population of that country and direct it to the peaceful life, solve social and economic problems and implement gradual reforms in order to establish stability. The contact group 6+2, which successfully operated with the help of the UN in 1997-2001, has to be transformed into 6+3 with attraction of NATO to the negotiation process, Islam Karimov said.
At the negotiations of the official delegations of Uzbekistan and Bulgaria, issues of development of trade-economic, scientific-technical and humanitarian cooperation were considered. The sides agreed that the countries had enough potential to significantly expand the scale of economic cooperation.
Islam Karimov proposed organization of national exhibitions and economic forums in both countries, since nothing brings businessmen closer than direct contacts. The President of Uzbekistan suggested organizing the national exhibition of Bulgaria in Tashkent, and Georgi Parvanov supported this initiative.
During the talks, a particular focus was made on the cooperation in energy and tourism sectors. Among them were exploration of new deposits, improvement of tourism infrastructure, development hotel business and preparation of the staff for the tourism industry. The sides also considered issues of boosting direct ties between the regions, cities and industrial subjects of the two countries.
After the negotiations, the presidents signed a Joint communique. Also signed were intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in IT and telecommunications and protection of intellectual property rights. The commerce and industry chambers of the two states signer a cooperation agreement, too.
On the same day, President of Bulgaria held talks with the speaker of the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan Dilorom Tashmuhamedova, which focused on development of cooperation between the parliaments.
Georgi Parvanov, accompanied by Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev, visited the Independence Square and laid flowers to the Monument of independence and humanism.
The Bulgarian leader also visited the State museum of Temurids history.
PLOVDIV, SAMARKAND BECOME TWIN CITIES
The Mayor of the Bulgaria city of Plovdiv Slavcho Atanasov and the Mayor of the Uzbek city of Samarkand signed Zoir Mirzayev signed Friday a sister city agreement, Uzreport Information portal reported.
The ceremony took place in the residence of the Governor of the Samarkand district. Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov and the Uzbekistan's Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev.
The Plovdiv City Council made the decision for starting sister city relations with Samarkand last month after the authorities of the Uzbek cities expressed interest in cooperation in the fields of higher education, tourism, and trade.
The signing of the agreement was part of the program of the four-day visit of an official Bulgarian delegation to Uzbekistan led by the President Georgi Parvanov.
ECONOMY
UZBEK-BULGARIAN BUSINESS FORUM HELD IN TASHKENT
The forum of Uzbek and Bulgarian businessmen was held in Tashkent on Thursday in the framework of the visit of the President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov to Uzbekistan. The event focused on expansion of trade-economic and investment cooperation between the two states, UzA reported.
Representatives of ministries, departments and companies working in the foreign trade, investments, banking and finance, fuel and energy, construction, machinery building, agriculture, chemical and light industries, healthcare, transport and logistics, IT and telecommunications, sports, culture and tourism participated in the forum.
Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said the visit of the Bulgarian President and the negotiations would serve to further expansion of cooperation between the nations and utilization of the currently unused potential.
Currently, about 20 joint ventures set up with Bulgarian investments operate in Uzbekistan. The exports of Uzbekistan to Bulgaria consist of cotton fiber, ferrous metals, chemical and oil and gas products, vegetables, etc. Imports from Bulgaria include medicaments, plastic products, mechanical equipment, furniture, confectionery, perfumery and other items.
The relations between the two states are based on almost 30 documents signed on the intergovernmental and interdepartmental level. Among them are agreements on mutual stimulation and protection of investments, as well as on economic and scientific-technical cooperation.
The Bulgarian businessmen received information on investing in Uzbekistan and the wide-scale privatization process going on in the country. They were also familiarized with the development of the small business and private entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan.
The business forum participants agreed on strengthening economic relations, increasing the number of joint ventures and development on new joint projects.
BULGARIAN, UZBEK TRADE CHAMBERS SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bulgaria signed an agreement on cooperation on Thursday, 6 November.
The agreement was signed within the framework of state visit of the Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov to Uzbekistan.
As earlier reported, Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov underlined that the sides should broaden and diversify trade relations between two states. Uzbek head said that the current level of trade is not satisfactory.
Trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Bulgaria made up US$4.78 million in January-August 2008, of which US$1.455 million fell to share of export of Uzbekistan and US$3.324 million to import.
Uzbekistan main exported fertilizers (54.7%), transport and tourism service (13.1%), mineral fuel, oil and oil products (12.9%), cotton yarn (10.1%) and others.
The country imports pharmaceuticals (54.2%), timber and timber goods (20.3%), mechanic equipment (15.1%), perfume and cosmetics and detergent (4.5%), electronics (3%) and others.
Bilateral trade turnover between two states comprised US$5.795 million in 2007, of which Uzbekistan's export was US$986,200 and import was US$4.808 million.
BAS PROGRAMME IS OPEN FOR COOPERATION – NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Second Consulting Services Exhibition "Consult Forum" opened in Tashkent on 6 November. Business Advisory Services (BAS) Programme of the EBRD, Association of Professional Business Consultants and Expocontact under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan organized the event.
Nazar Talibdjanov, national director of BAS Programme in Uzbekistan, said: "Today, more and more heads of enterprises and organizations are heading to consulting firms for preparation of business plans on various goals. This can be seen in context of improvement of methodology and practice of adoption of management decisions."
Consult Forum should create platform for establishment of contacts and business relations, exchange of experience and opinions of consulting market's participants in Uzbekistan and Central Asia, he said.
Recently, BAS Programme signed an agreement with the Center for Economic Research to carry out research of consulting services market and the results will help to make evaluation of consulting market of Uzbekistan.
Talibdjanov said the exhibition is attended by 80 consulting firms, of which 70 represent Uzbekistan.
He said that the consulting market is developing dynamically, which can be seen in the share of small businesses in GDP of Uzbekistan. He said that there will be need to outsource some activities of the company during dynamic growth of private sector. BAS Programme is open for cooperation, he said.
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY TRADE FAIR IN TASHKENT
A trade fair of mineral fertilizers, defoliants and means of chemical protection of plants has opened at UzKimyoSanoat (Uzbek Chemical Industry) State Joint-Stock Company.
The fair organized for the fifth time provides the showcase for mineral and non-organic fertilizers, in total about 150 types of products manufactured by more than a dozen national enterprises, such as Kungrad Soda Plant, Maksam Chirchik OJSC, SamarkandKimyo, NavoiAzot, Ammofos, Kukon SuperPhosphat Zavodi, FargonaAzot, JizzakhPlastmassa, UzA reported.
"At the 2007 fair we presented more than thirty different types of products manufactured by our company, and signed contracts for 17 billion soums," the Head of the Sales Department at Navoi based ElektroKimyoZavodi Ismatilla Jumaev said. "Since last year we have increased the diversity and the volume of products manufactured. At this year's fair we are presenting 50 products. During the fair we expect to sign contracts for some 30 billion soums."
The fair visitors are mainly managers of agricultural enterprises, farmers wishing to negotiate the procurement of chemical substances and mineral fertilizers.
SOCIETY
SOGLOM AVLOD UCHUN HELPS CHILDREN ENJOY THEIR SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Within the framework of the Year of Youth Soglom Avlod Uchun (For the healthy generation) International Non-State Charitable Fund holds meetings and events aimed at upbringing harmonically developed talents, as well as supporting children of charity houses and less well-off families.
Those efforts include tours along historical cities with a view to nurture in the hearts of young generation the senses of love and respect towards Homeland, grow interest to cultural heritage of Uzbek nation and its promotion. More tha 100,000 children have been covered by the efforts of Soglom Avlod Uchun for over the last period.
More than 40 schoolchildren - mainly from the less well-off families and charitable houses of Tashkent visites ancient Samarkand during the autumn holidays with the support of Tashkent city municipality The children had a chance to see a learn about unique architectural ensembles of the ancient city, its modern development, new buildings, avenues, parks and gardens constructed during the years of independence.
This kind of noble events have been carried out by the regional offices of the Fund as well, with the a view to help this category of children enjoy their holidays while enriching their knowledge of the history and present days of Uzbekistan.
TASHKENT CONFERENCE DISCUSSES ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
A conference on informing population on environment protection issues has opened in Tashkent. The event has been organized by State Nature Committee of Uzbekistan, UNDP and OSCE, Uzreport Information Portal reported.
It was noted that for last several years decreased emission by 5,200 tonnes, waste discharge to sewers by 1.6 million cubic meters. The country carried out reclamation of 2,447 hectares of land and decreased use of pesticides by four times.
The meeting said that the waste management has been improving in Uzbekistan due to implementation of several project in cooperation with the international organizations.
The participants noted the need to raise awareness of population on environment protection and ecology. It was said that State Nature Committee of Uzbekistan should closely work with mass media to promote ecologic knowledge, in particular in remote areas of Uzbekistan.
Representatives of ministries and agencies of Uzbekistan, international organizations are attending this three-day event.
Today, the participants discussed national strategy and action plan on waste management and on the last day, they will visit waste processing enterprise in Tashkent region.
NEW EDUCATIONAL INTERNET PORTAL
The Ministry of higher and secondary special education of Uzbekistan set out a creation and introduction of intellectual system of education, which should play an important role in increase of higher education quality, according to Uzbekistan Today.
“Intellectual system of education is a program focusing on support of study process in higher education institutions,” Uzikboy Begimkulov, Deputy Minister of Higher and Secondary Special Education noted. “It enables an expanded study process for students and creates them extra opportunities in advanced study of subjects.”
Intellectual system of education is an Internet portal with information meeting the state educational standards requirements. It will consist of study topics on specific subjects and information resources guides were the necessary information can be found. And among the recommended sources of information there will be both electronic and traditional (printed) ones that can be easily accessible in informational-resource centers and via Internet and ZiyoNET networks. Interaction testing system helping the student to examine the mastered knowledge will be presented in the portal as well. It is intended to create opportunities for students to get teachers’ instructions through electronic mail. According to its developers, the system has much in common with systems of distant education however it will work in tune with higher educational programs.
At present, developers mapped out a necessary basis creation plan as well as provision the intellectual education system with additional resources. Leading specialists of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education believe for the project to work at full capacity it will take several years of active participation of higher educational institutions teachers in this process.
MASTER CLASS FOR YOUNG COMPOSERS
Omnibus Laboratorium, the 6th International master class for composers, organized by the Composers’ Union of Uzbekistan, Ilkhom theatre and Swiss Cooperation Office in Uzbekistan together with Goethe Institute in Tashkent, came to a close.
Young composers and students of music institutions from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan took part in this master class. Rich curriculum, prepared for them, included series of lectures by foreign and Uzbek composers and musicologists as well as musical performances and concerts.
“This year performances of composers Victor Rasgada (Mexico) and Stephan Schleiermacher (Germany) were interesting. They read lectures devoted to the modern music and its structure, classical and contemporary composers’ works,” Habibullo Rakhimov, deputy chairman of the Composers’ Union of Uzbekistan told. “Leading musicologists from Tashkent Conservatoire participated with their lectures as well. Moreover, every young composer had individual classes. The main goal was to acquaint young composers with development of contemporary music, most advanced methods of composing style techniques. Thus attendees mutually enriched, shared opinions and experience, acquaintance with each other’s works.”
During the master class in Ilkhom theatre, trainees watched an opera of Victor Rasgada called “The Rabbit and Coyote” staged by famous Uzbek stage manager, Ovliyakuli Hodjikuli. Its participants were the Ilkhom theatre actors and conservatoire students. A concert of young Uzbek composers became one of the brightest events of the ten-day course. In the end of the mater classes participants had a roundtable where they summed up its results and discussed contemporary Uzbek composing art as well as the future plans.